Oaklyn man hangs self in Gloucester County Jail

WOODBURY -- A Gloucester County Jail inmate has died from an apparent suicide after being found hanging inside his cell Tuesday afternoon.

The 33-year-old Oaklyn man, who was not identified, had been jailed since April 30 after being picked up on a failure to appear warrant, authorities said Tuesday.

Corrections officers were notified shortly after 2:30 p.m. They immediately untied the inmate and worked to resuscitate him.

The inmate was transported to Underwood-Memorial Hospital in Woodbury, where he was pronounced dead at 3:41 p.m.

The officers followed all “standard operating procedures,” according to county spokeswoman Debra Sellitto.

When he was booked, the inmate showed no signs of mental illness and did not exhibit any signs of suicidal tendencies, according to Sellitto.

Other inmates in the cell said the deceased asked for privacy so he could use the bathroom, according to Sellitto. Approximately 10 minutes later, the inmates returned and found the man hanging inside the cell.

They also said the Oaklyn man did not appear to be suicidal prior to the incident, according to officials.

Jail officials immediately contacted their Special Investigations Unit and notified the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.

The prosecutor's office was brought to the cell to collect evidence and has been asked to conduct an investigation into the death.

The apparent suicide remains under investigation, but there does not appear to be any signs of foul play, according to Sellitto.

The last suicide at the jail was reported in March 2008, when an inmate hanged himself.